A Dear Daphni Review
By: Rachel McCloskey
It is not hard to find a good happy hour deal in Philadelphia. However, it is hard to find one offered every day of the week. Dear Daphni, a new Mediterranean restaurant in Rittenhouse, offers just that. From the creators of Double Knot and Alphen Rose, this modern menu features mezze, kebabs, and signature dishes, including a signature cocktail list.
I arrived at Dear Daphni 30 minutes after the start of their happy hour, which is from 4 to 6 p.m. The restaurant was essentially empty. It was the calm before the storm.
Happy hour is first come first served, limited to their bar and outdoor seating area. Considering it was the first taste of spring where the temperature hit above 50 degrees, I decided to sit outside. Tables lined the sidewalk with heaters above them. This is a specialty to me as many restaurants in Philadelphia do not offer outdoor seating.
Grace, my server, was kind and relatable, leaving me with a “cheers” each time she dropped food off at my table. I ordered the Turkish dumplings, salmon tartare, Moroccan meatballs, Lebanese potato chips, hummus, and their dip of the day, smoked beets. I drank the only beer offered on their happy hour menu, the New Trail Brewing Co. 5, a crisp lager from Williamsport, PA, while my boyfriend had the Marrakesh mule, a delicious vodka cocktail with ginger beer and mint.
We ordered nearly everything on their expansive happy hour menu.
The Turkish dumplings were small but came with four pieces. Inside was lamb and yogurt, laid out on a tomato base. The tomato was overpowering, with the yogurt introducing an interesting combination of flavors I have never tasted before. It was fun to try, but not my favorite, and for $7, I would not try it again.
The salmon tartare was the most forgettable, which was a shame for me as I love salmon. It came with the same Lebanese potato chips to use as a spoon for the salmon tartare, so it would have been nice to have something different with them. But the Lebanese potato chips on their own were delicious, with the perfect crunch and right amount of seasoning on them. While only given a handful, the Zatar that came with them made the price of $7 worth it. I’d skip the salmon tartare next time, but I’d get the Lebanese potato chips again.
Probably the best item on Dear Daphni’s happy hour menu were the Moroccan meatballs, a pleasant surprise to me. While meatballs aren’t usually my first choice on any dinner menu, these were so flavorful, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste that only made me want more. The order came with only two meatballs on a bed of tomato with pine nut and feta cheese on top. I feel greedy wishing that it came with more.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with hummus. Their hummus came with two pieces of pita which were warm and fluffy. Same with their dip of the day, which was smoked beets, a sweet and tasty dip. I look forward to getting both again.
Despite Dear Daphni’s smaller portions of food, I was both full and satisfied after my meal. My bill came out to be $72.30, and anytime I spend less than $100 on a dinner in Rittenhouse, I am happy. There have been plenty of times where I’ve spent more on less that was not worth it, and let me say, Dear Daphni was worth it (for those meatballs alone).
By the time I left the restaurant at 6 p.m., it was fully packed inside. If you make plans to catch dinner at Dear Daphni, make sure to make reservations beforehand, and arrive early like I did for happy hour.